Meet The Faculty

Ms. Mia Ma is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Piano Performance and Pedagogy at the University of Oklahoma. She holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Pedagogy from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Musicology degree from Beijing Normal University.

With over seven years of teaching experience, Ms. Ma has worked with students of various ages and levels in both private and collegiate settings. Before coming to the United States, she taught at the Yamaha Music School in Chengdu, where she served as both a private piano instructor and a group musicianship teacher. In addition to helping students develop healthy piano technique and prepare for examinations, competitions, and performances, she taught classes focusing on ear training, rhythm, listening skills, and overall musicianship. These experiences strengthened her ability to work with students from diverse backgrounds and learning styles while fostering both musical growth and confidence.

Ms. Ma currently serves as a Teaching Assistant at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches Aural Skills and assists with Music Theory instruction for undergraduate music students. Her collegiate teaching experience has deepened her passion for helping students connect piano study with broader musicianship skills, including listening, rhythm, harmony, creativity, and musical understanding.

As both a pianist and educator, Ms. Ma believes that music is a natural part of every human being and that every student possesses the potential for musical growth. Inspired by the pedagogical philosophy of Dr. Frances Clark, she views music education as a process of nurturing curiosity, creativity, and artistic expression. Her teaching emphasizes not only technical development, but also imagination, listening, problem solving, and meaningful musical experiences. She strives to create a positive and engaging environment where students develop confidence, independence, and a lifelong love of music.